Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.10055
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    Diagrams of the zodiacal light as seen in spring

    Date
    1848
    Creator
    Charles Piazzi Smyth (1819 - 1900, British) , Astronomer
    Object type
    Archive reference number
    Material
    Dimensions
    height (drawing): 236mm
    width (drawing): 189mm
    Subject
    Description
    Four diagrams of the appearance of the zodiacal light as it would appear when observed on 21 March at a latitude of 56 degrees south (figures 1 and 2) and at 56 degrees north (figures 3 and 4). The light is shown as lenticular in shape and each diagram is marked with lines of the equator, poles, horizon and ecliptic.

    Illustration from the unpublished paper "Attempt to apply instrumental measurement to the zodiacal light...”, by Charles Piazzi Smyth. The paper was written or completed on 25 March 1848 and received by the Royal Society on 13 April. It was eventually withdrawn on 2 November 1848.

    Inscribed in ink: “Plate 1 p.5 Diagrams representing the Zodiacal Light as seen on March 21, a.m and p.m in lat. 56 S, and in lat 56 N.”
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